The Times is reporting that former Cabinet Minister James Purnell will quit his Stalybridge and Hyde seat at the general election.

He is the latest in a line of senior Blairites to leave the Commons and in fact I speculated here back in November that Purnell might join the queue of ex-cheerleaders for Tony Blair who would depart the Commons at the election. He only entered the Commons in 2001.

In December, Rob Adlard was selected to contest Stalybridge and Hyde for the Conservatives. He is chairman of the Longendale ward
Conservatives in the constituency and would need a swing of 12%
to overturn the notional Labour majority of 8,455.

Two selections from the last few days that we have not yet registered took place in Tameside in Greater Manchester.

Firstly, Rob Adlard has been selected to challenge ex-Cabinet minister James Purnell in Stalybridge and Hyde. Manchester-based Rob - originally from the North East - is 34 years old and a freelance violinist. He is also chairman of the Longendale ward Conservatives in the constituency, where he would need a swing of 12% to overturn Purnell's notional majority of 8,455.

Meanwhile, Seema Kennedy has been chosen to stand in Ashton-under-Lyne, where Labour MP David Heyes will defend a notional majority of 13,199. She resigned as chairman of St Albans Conservative association after her attempt to deselect Anne Main failed earlier this year.